Double-folding car-step.



W. G. CORY.

- DOUBLE FOLDING UAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED O0T.14, 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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W. G. CORY.

DOUBLE FOLDING GAR STEP.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP 01214, 1914.

1,1 20,284, Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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@v Xbd 0M WILBUR G. CORY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD MOTOR TRUCK COM- PANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DOUBLE-FOLDING CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 14, 1914. Serial No. 866,687.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILBUR G. CORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Double-Folding Car-Step, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to double folding car steps and to means for holding the steps in inoperative position. Such steps are most commonly used upon the open or crossseat summer cars, in the operation of which on double track roads only the outer steps are used. It is customary to raise the steps upon the inner side to inoperative folded position and provision must be made for retaining the steps in raised position. It is also frequently desirable to place the lower outer step in a partially raised or inoperative position without raising the upper step. This method of operation is desirable when it is necessary to make short turns in city streets and under certain conditions in inter urban travel, also when the cars are entered from an elevated platform.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for supporting double folding steps of the character described, the said means being so designed that the lower step may be supported in partially raised position and that both steps may be supported and secured in fully raised position.

My invention further comprises certain devices, arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of my improved steps and their supporting and se' curing means; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4: is an enlarged, vertical, sectional. view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, but showing the steps in raised position, and Figs. 5 and 6 are side and plan views, respectively of the stepsocuring devices.

The double folding steps which constitute the subject matter of my invention are supported upon hangers 10 which are rigidly secured to the framework 11 of the car body.

The upper step 12 is mounted upon castings 13 which are pivoted at 1 1 to the hanger l0. leach casting 13 has a rearwardly projecting lug 15 adapted to engage a shoulder 16 upon the hanger 10 thereby holding the step in horizontal position. When the step 12 is not in use it may be swung upon its pivot 14 into the position shown in Fig. 4:, in which position it may be retained by fastening means to be hereinafter described.

An outwardly and downwardly inclined arm 17 is pivoted at 18 to the hanger 10,

said arm and hanger having cooperating shoulders 19 and 20 which retain the hanger in the position shown in Fig. 2. The lower step 21 is mounted upon castings or brackets 22 which are pivotally connected at 23 to the lower end of the arm 17. A rearwardly extending projection 24; on the casting 22 engages a shoulder 25 on the arm 17 to hold the step 21 in horizontal position. The

usual toe board 26 may be secured by bolts 27 to the arm 17.

When it is desired to operate the ear with the lower step in partially raised position the step may be swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, its rearward inclination then serving to retain the step in that position without the necessity of special provision for securing it. In order to move the lower step to its fully raised position, the arm 17 is swung about its pivot 18 into the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position it may be secured by the fastening devices shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These fastening devices comprise two movable members 30 and 31 pivotally mounted on a stud 31 supported on a bracket 32 secured to the frame of the car. The member 30 is provided with a looped outer portion 33 adapted to engage a member 34L fixed to the step 21 in any convenient manner as by bolts 35 (Figs. 3 and 5). Reference to Fig. 3 will show that the member 34: is secured to the inner side of the step 21, thus being entirely out of the way of passengers when the step is in use. At its upper end, the member 3a is curved outwardly so that accidental. disengagement of the members 30 and an is impossible. A spring 36 (Fig. 6) encircles the stud 31 and at one end engages the member 30, while at its outer end it engages the bracket 32, the spring being so disposed that it will retain the fastening Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

member 30 in lowered, position when the latter is not in use. The fastening member 31 is loosely mounted on the stud 31 between the sides of the member 30 and has a hook-shaped projection adapted to engagebetween the members is permitted.

I have thus provided an arrangement of carsteps such that the lower step may be held in partially raised position and that both steps may be fully raised and locked in their raised position. The parts are all so disposed that when moved to inoperative position they will very slightly increase the width of the car.

Having thus described my invention it will be evident that changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. as set forth in the claims and I do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details herein disclosed, but

What I claim is 1. Double folding car steps comprising hangers, an upper step hinged to said hangers, arms pivoted to said hangers, and a lower step hinged to said arms.

2. Double folding car steps comprising hangers, an upper step hinged to said hangrs, arms pivoted to said hangers, and a lowerstep hinged to said arms, said arms being effective to support the step in either operative or inoperative position.

8. Double folding .car steps comprising hangers, an upper step hinged to said hangers, an arm pivoted to each of said hangers, and a lower step hinged to said arms, said arms being eli'ective to support the lower step in either operative or inoperative low- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. G.

V to inoperative lowered position when not cred position, or in inoperative raised position.

4. Double folding car steps comprising an upper step and a lower step each movable to inoperative position, and a latch having a separate portion for engaging each step, said latch being automatically movable in use.

5. Double folding car steps comprising an upper step and a lower step, each movable to inoperative position,a latch having a. separate portion for engaging each step, and a spring to'hold said latch in inoperative lowered position when not in use.

6. Double folding car steps comprising an upper step and a lower step, each movable to inoperative position, and a latch having a separate portion for engaging each step, said portions having limited movement relative to each other whereby they can be moved together from inoperative position and can separately engage their respective steps.

7. Double folding car steps comprising hangers, an upper step hinged to said hangers, arms pivoted to said hangers, and a lower step hinged to said arms, said arms and hangers having cooperating stops which. support the arms in an outwardly and downwardly inclined position, and said. steps and hangers having additional coopcrating stops which support the step in horizontal operative position, said step be ing movable on said arms to an inwardly and upwardly inclined inoperative position. In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

.WILB R e. CORY.

Witnesses V HOWARD Gr. SAUNDERS, WILLIAM GOLDBURG.

Commissioner of Patents. 

